This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.
Sarvesh P. S. Rajput,
- Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Abstract
The escalating impacts of global warming, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, demand urgent action in the construction sector, which contributes over 40% of global CO₂ emissions. Smart buildings, designed to optimize energy use, water efficiency, and occupant comfort through automation and advanced materials, represent a transformative response to these challenges. The convergence of sustainability and urban development has spotlighted the need for green materials in smart building design. With buildings accounting for over 40% of global carbon emissions, integrating advanced materials is crucial for reducing environmental impact. Polymer-based innovations—such as bio-based polymers, natural fiber composites, self-healing systems, and phase-change materials (PCMs)—offer a pathway to energy-efficient, environmentally friendly construction. These materials improve thermal regulation, durability, and resource efficiency while minimizing waste and reliance on non-renewable resources. This paper explores the historical context, scientific principles, advantages, implementation challenges, case studies, emerging trends, and future potential of polymer chemistry in sustainable urban development. However, real-world case studies demonstrate successful applications in green architecture, showing promising results in energy savings and sustainability. Emerging trends, including nanotechnology advancements and circular economy principles, further drive innovation in polymer-based construction materials. By reducing carbon footprints, enhancing building performance, and promoting ecological resilience, these materials redefine the built environment, shaping the future of sustainable cities. Through continued research and development, polymer chemistry can play a pivotal role in achieving net-zero urban infrastructure.
Keywords: Sustainable construction, green materials, polymer chemistry, bio-based polymers, smart buildings, carbon emissions, energy efficiency.
Sarvesh P. S. Rajput. Polymer-Based Materials in Green and Sustainable Construction. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(05):-.
Sarvesh P. S. Rajput. Polymer-Based Materials in Green and Sustainable Construction. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(05):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=0
References
- Salami BA, Bahraq AA, ul Haq MM, Ojelade OA, Taiwo R, Wahab S, Adewumi AA, Ibrahim M. Polymer-enhanced concrete: A comprehensive review of innovations and pathways for resilient and sustainable materials. Next Materials. 2024 Jul 1;4:100225.
- Shah IH, Miller SA, Jiang D, Myers RJ. Cement substitution with secondary materials can reduce annual global CO2 emissions by up to 1.3 gigatons. Nature communications. 2022 Sep 30;13(1):5758.
- Enawgaw H, Tesfaye T, Yilma KT, Limeneh DY. Multiple utilization ways of corn by-products for biomaterial production with bio-refinery concept; a review. Materials Circular Economy. 2023 Dec;5(1):7.
- Ahmad I, Shokouhian M, Jenkins M, McLemore GL. Factors influencing bacterial-based precipitation, assessment of crack inducing, durability and characterization methods: a comprehensive review. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions. 2025 Mar;10(3):1-35.
- Qureshi KM, Yadav A, Garg RK, Sachdeva A, Abdulrahman A, Alghamd SY, Qureshi MR. Are polymer-based smart materials unlocking the path to sustainable manufacturing for a net-zero economy? Current trends and potential applications. IEEE Access. 2024 Dec 26.
- Srai JS, Kumar M, Graham G, Phillips W, Tooze J, Ford S, Beecher P, Raj B, Gregory M, Tiwari MK, Ravi B. Distributed manufacturing: scope, challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Production Research. 2016 Dec 1;54(23):6917-35.
- Khoshnava SM, Rostami R, Mohamad Zin R, Štreimikienė D, Mardani A, Ismail M. The role of green building materials in reducing environmental and human health impacts. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020 Apr;17(7):2589.
- Hernández JL, de Miguel I, Vélez F, Vasallo A. Challenges and opportunities in European smart buildings energy management: A critical review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2024 Jul 1;199:114472.
- Tamošaitienė J, Parham S, Sarvari H, Chan DW, Edwards DJ. A Review of the Application of Synthetic and Natural Polymers as Construction and Building Materials for Achieving Sustainable Construction. Buildings. 2024 Aug 20;14(8):2569.
- Qureshi KM, Yadav A, Garg RK, Sachdeva A, Abdulrahman A, Alghamd SY, Qureshi MR. Are polymer-based smart materials unlocking the path to sustainable manufacturing for a net-zero economy? Current trends and potential applications. IEEE Access. 2024 Dec 26.
- Bertino G, Kisser J, Zeilinger J, Langergraber G, Fischer T, Österreicher D. Fundamentals of building deconstruction as a circular economy strategy for the reuse of construction materials. Applied sciences. 2021 Jan 20;11(3):939.
- Kumari S, Rao A, Kaur M, Dhania G. Petroleum-Based Plastics Versus Bio-Based Plastics: A Review. Nature Environment & Pollution Technology. 2023 Sep 1;22(3).
- Zhou Y, Li L, Han Z, Li Q, He J, Wang Q. Self-healing polymers for electronics and energy devices. Chemical Reviews. 2022 Oct 19;123(2):558-612.
- Tukker A. Life cycle assessment as a tool in environmental impact assessment. Environmental impact assessment review. 2000 Aug 1;20(4):435-56.
- Ilie N, Hilton TJ, Heintze SD, Hickel R, Watts DC, Silikas N, Stansbury JW, Cadenaro M, Ferracane JL. Academy of dental materials guidance—Resin composites: Part I—Mechanical properties. Dental materials. 2017 Aug 1;33(8):880-94.
- Mansour A, Mohyeddin A, Lee J. Load-bearing behaviour of anchors in fibre-reinforced concrete–A state of the art review. Journal of Building Engineering. 2024 May 14:109580.
- Adebowale OJ, Agumba JN. Bamboo in sustainable construction: effects on productivity and safety. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management. 2024 Dec 10;74(11):1-20.
- Alam MW, Islam Bhat S, Al Qahtani HS, Aamir M, Amin MN, Farhan M, Aldabal S, Khan MS, Jeelani I, Nawaz A, Souayeh B. Recent progress, challenges, and trends in polymer-based sensors: a review. Polymers. 2022 May 26;14(11):2164.
- Mohamad Amini MH. Forest and agricultural biomass. Plant biomass derived materials: sources, extractions, and applications. 2024 Apr 1:271-90.
- von Vacano B, Mangold H, Vandermeulen GW, Battagliarin G, Hofmann M, Bean J, Künkel A. Sustainable design of structural and functional polymers for a circular economy. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2023 Mar 13;62(12):e202210823.
- Courland R. Concrete planet: the strange and fascinating story of the world’s most common man-made material. Rowman & Littlefield; 2022 Jun 21.
- Mavai S, Bains A, Sridhar K, Rashid S, Elossaily GM, Ali N, Chawla P, Sharma M. Formulation and application of poly lactic acid, gum, and cellulose-based ternary bioplastic for smart food packaging: A review. International journal of biological macromolecules. 2024 Apr 18:131687.
- Popescu D, Bienert S, Schützenhofer C, Boazu R. Impact of energy efficiency measures on the economic value of buildings. Applied Energy. 2012 Jan 1;89(1):454-63.
- Suresh C, Hotta TK, Saha SK. Phase change material incorporation techniques in building envelopes for enhancing the building thermal Comfort-A review. Energy and Buildings. 2022 Aug 1;268:112225.
- Kumar R, Ul Haq MI, Raina A, Anand A. Industrial applications of natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites–challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering. 2019 May 4;12(3):212-20.
- Kamarudin SH, Mohd Basri MS, Rayung M, Abu F, Ahmad SB, Norizan MN, Osman S, Sarifuddin N, Desa MS, Abdullah UH, Mohamed Amin Tawakkal IS. A review on natural fiber reinforced polymer composites (NFRPC) for sustainable industrial applications. Polymers. 2022 Sep 5;14(17):3698.
- Ribeiro MC, Meira-Castro AC, Silva FG, Santos J, Meixedo JP, Fiúza A, Dinis ML, Alvim MR. Re-use assessment of thermoset composite wastes as aggregate and filler replacement for concrete-polymer composite materials: A case study regarding GFRP pultrusion wastes. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2015 Nov 1;104:417-26.
- Bin Abu Sofian AD, Sun X, Gupta VK, Berenjian A, Xia A, Ma Z, Show PL. Advances, synergy, and perspectives of machine learning and biobased polymers for energy, fuels, and biochemicals for a sustainable future. Energy & Fuels. 2024 Jan 16;38(3):1593-617.
- Jiang L, Wu M, Du F, Chen D, Xiao L, Chen W, Du W, Ding Q. State-of-the-art review of microcapsule self-repairing concrete: Principles, applications, test methods, prospects. Polymers. 2024 Nov 13;16(22):3165.
- Ekeocha J, Ellingford C, Pan M, Wemyss AM, Bowen C, Wan C. Challenges and opportunities of self‐healing polymers and devices for extreme and hostile environments. Advanced Materials. 2021 Aug;33(33):2008052.
- Karthik A, Bhuvaneshwaran M, Senthil Kumar MS, Palanisamy S, Palaniappan M, Ayrilmis N. A review on surface modification of plant fibers for enhancing properties of biocomposites. ChemistrySelect. 2024 Jun 4;9(21):e202400650.

Journal of Polymer and Composites
| Volume | 13 |
| 05 | |
| Received | 28/02/2025 |
| Accepted | 17/04/2025 |
| Published | 28/06/2025 |
| Publication Time | 120 Days |
[first_name] [last_name]